BlueRange and Waldmann – Network and Lighting

Waldmann’s self-image when developing light in the workplace is a commitment to its origins, a love of engineering, an enthusiasm for quality and, above all, a striving for further development. The latest driver of innovation, in addition to the networking of light, is to offer solutions for the requirements of a changing working world. This is done using BlueRange.

For Waldmann, this is a big leap, but one that is ultimately consistent. The development from a lighting specialist to a provider of digitalization solutions in the real estate sector speaks for the company’s innovative strength. Around ten years ago, lights were first technically linked to form a swarm intelligence. This meant that ideal lighting control could be achieved. Since 2019, the next level has been reached: smart products that not only link lighting technology, but also generate information from the area and return it to the user in a beneficial way. Since then, Waldmann has devoted a lot of effort to organizing networked workplace environments, primarily to improve work through valuable information.

Yara, Kirk and Chekov

The “light of connectivity” is how Waldmann describes the networking of her lights. “Intelligent” sensors in the lights record data in work environments. These LTX sensors are an important component of networked systems and a prerequisite for controlling light. These sensors can also record other measurements in the workplace, such as the utilization of rooms and desks, temperature, volume or air quality.

Waldmann’s data acquisition system consists of the sensors installed in the Yara floor lamp series, which can be supplemented by the Kirk ceiling sensors and the Chekov table sensors. “This sensor technology goes far beyond the smartness of pure light management. Free workstations, recommendations or warning messages are also displayed directly on the devices – in addition to the digital view in the apps or software,” explains Jakob Dorn, Head of Communications at Waldmann. “The advantage of displaying icons on the lamp heads or sensors is that employees can see the status directly.”

BlueRange and Waldmann – three-layer model

“The collaboration between Waldmann and BlueRange is based on a shift model,” explains Manuel Weber, Product Marketing Manager and responsible for digitalization at Waldmann. “The first layer consists of our hardware that records environmental data: the Yara lights with multi-sensor technology, the Kirk ceiling sensor or the Chekov table sensor.”

The second layer concerns the transport of data and the associated IT infrastructure in a building. The BlueRange mesh is responsible for this “transport layer”: A Bluetooth chip is integrated in all Waldmann products with LTX sensors, which sends data wirelessly and receives incoming data via the special BlueRange mesh. This data is bundled via a BlueRange gateway and an MQTT broker and made available either on a locally hosted server or via a cloud.

The third layer uses the generated, transported and bundled data. The Waldmann start-up LIZ developed its own software for this purpose. LIZ provides the software for analyzing and organizing modern working environments. Workstations can be booked using the booker and spaces can be analyzed and optimized using the workspace manager.

However, the system is open and compatible with other platforms, so that BlueRange’s own apps can also evaluate, visualize and process this data.

Revitalization of existing properties

When it comes to the digitization of buildings, two topics are particularly relevant for Waldmann: The question is how to make a building “digitization-ready”. “Through light that can be used flexibly and an open system that is prepared for all types of use, there are opportunities to transmit a lot of information from the area to the building,” explains Jakob Dorn. The products from Waldmann and BlueRange are particularly suitable for the digitization of existing buildings, as no complex infrastructure needs to be subsequently installed via wired systems. “You can equip existing buildings intelligently relatively quickly. The best example of successful revitalization is the Rosenstraße project of the Hapag-Lloyd shipping company in Hamburg. Here, an existing building was successfully digitized using components from Waldmann and BlueRange,” adds Manuel Weber.

The interaction of the three layers – the light with sensors, BlueRange as the transmission infrastructure and the app – has enormous added value for the user. Using the powerful tool of coordinated digitalization infrastructures and intelligent office management, new challenges in the world of work such as shared desk and hybrid work can be optimally combined. This allows companies to operate their spaces more economically through more efficient utilization. This also affects the energy balance of the buildings. Above all, the topic of energy efficiency in everyday consumption can be controlled and documented.

Future of digitalization

At Waldmann we know that smart buildings must always be in harmony with people and the environment. Digitalization is the central driver for your future. The Engineers of Light focus on the specific benefits of technology, the associated solutions and the added value. Because: the more you know about a building, the more flexibly and efficiently this knowledge can be used in everyday life. In addition to efficiency, another factor is crucial. “In the future, workspaces will tend to be of higher quality – while at the same time being reduced.” The spaces that are available will therefore experience a dynamic and flexibility that must be organized. And here digitalization will become a decisive factor in overcoming the challenges,” predicts Manuel Weber.

Waldmann Digital — In conjunction with BlueRange

Yara

The current generation of floor lamps from YARA offers smart light management options that save energy costs and increase working comfort. Yara is equipped with LTX sensors and the Bluetooth chip and can therefore transport the recorded data via BlueRange.

Kirk

The LTX multisensor KIRK uses its data to help determine the real use of space and record parameters such as noise and air quality in order to enable decisions to be made to improve workplace design. The multisensor simplifies office organization.

Chekov

Chekov determines the real use of jobs. The intelligent table sensor uses its data to help efficiently use office space with shared desk concepts. The sensor is suitable for office environments that can be measured and booked. It reliably provides real data on workplace occupancy.

Photo credit

Photos by Waldmann, illustrations by BlueRange